@article{8dfde9f1076a4a5db68fa80bd8120a75,
title = "TrueNTH Sexual Recovery Intervention for couples coping with prostate cancer: Randomized controlled trial results",
abstract = "BACKGROUND: Despite significant sexual dysfunction and distress after localized prostate cancer treatment, patients typically receive only physiologic erectile dysfunction management. The authors performed a randomized controlled trial of an online intervention supporting couples' posttreatment recovery of sexual intimacy. METHODS: Patients treated with surgery, radiation, or combined radiation and androgen deprivation therapy who had partners were recruited and randomized to an online intervention or a control group. The intervention, tailored to treatment type and sexual orientation, comprised 6 modules addressing expectations for sexual and emotional sequelae of treatment, rehabilitation, and guidance toward sexual intimacy recovery. Couples, recruited from 6 sites nationally, completed validated measures at the baseline and 3 and 6 months after treatment. Primary outcome group differences were assessed with t tests for individual outcomes. RESULTS: Among 142 randomized couples, 105 patients (mostly surgery) and 87 partners completed the 6-month survey; this reflected challenges with recruitment and attrition. There were no differences between the intervention and control arms in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global Satisfaction With Sex Life scores 6 months after treatment (the primary outcome). Three months after treatment, intervention patients and partners reported more engagement in penetrative and nonpenetrative sexual activities than controls. More than 73% of the intervention participants reported high or moderate satisfaction with module content; more than 85% would recommend the intervention to other couples. CONCLUSIONS: Online psychosexual support for couples can help couples to connect and experience sexual pleasure early after treatment despite patients' sexual dysfunction. Participants' high endorsement of the intervention reflects the importance of sexual health support to couples after prostate cancer treatment. LAY SUMMARY: This study tested a web-based program supporting couples' sexual recovery of sexual intimacy after prostate cancer treatment. One hundred forty-two couples were recruited and randomly assigned to the program (n = 60) or to a control group (n = 82). The program did not result in improvements in participants' satisfaction with their sex life 6 months after treatment, but couples in the intervention group engaged in sexual activity sooner after treatment than couples in the control group. Couples evaluated the program positively and would recommend it to others facing prostate cancer treatment.",
keywords = "couples, prostate cancer, rehabilitation, sexual dysfunction, telemedicine",
author = "Daniela Wittmann and Akanksha Mehta and Bober, {Sharon L.} and Ziwei Zhu and Stephanie Daignault-Newton and Dunn, {Rodney L.} and Braun, {Thomas M.} and Caroline Carter and Ashley Duby and Northouse, {Laurel L.} and Koontz, {Bridget F.} and Glod{\'e}, {L. Michael} and Jan Brandon and Rick Bangs and John McPhail and Susan McPhail and Lenore Arab and Kellie Paich and Skolarus, {Ted A.} and An, {Lawrence C.} and Nelson, {Christian J.} and Saigal, {Christopher S.} and Chen, {Ronald C.} and Mulhall, {John P.} and Hawley, {Sarah T.} and Hearn, {Jason W.D.} and Spratt, {Daniel E.} and Pollack, {Craig E.}",
note = "Funding Information: Daniela Wittmann is routinely supported by the Department of Urology of the University of Michigan to attend annual meetings of the American Urological Association and the Sexual Medicine Society of North America, is a past Member of the Board of Directors of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America, and is an associate editor of the . Sharon L. Bober reports receiving honoraria from UpToDate and Johns Hopkins University and being chair for the Scientific Network on Female Sexual Health and Cancer. Ted A. Skolarus reports UpToDate royalties for authorship on a prostate cancer survivorship topic; he also reports grants from the National Cancer Institute (R37CA222885 and R01CA242559). Caroline Carter reports being a consultant for the Movember Foundation on a current sexual well‐being project. Daniel E. Spratt reports personal fees from Boston Scientific, Bayer, Varian, Blue Earth, AstraZeneca, and Janssen. Stephanie Daignault‐Newton reports belonging to a board for the American Urology Association. Bridget F. Koontz is a consultant for Rythera Therapeutics; reports research funding from Janssen Scientific Affairs, Merck Pharmaceuticals, and Blue Earth Diagnostics; receives royalties from Demos Publishing; is a symposium steering committee member for the American Society of Clinical Oncology; is a committee member for the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, the National Cancer Institute, and NRG; and is on advisory boards for Bayer, Blue Earth Diagnostics, and Myovant. L. Michael Glod{\'e} reports grants or contracts from the National Institutes of Health and the State of Colorado; consultancy for Janssen, Exelixis, Bayer, and Seattle Genetics; participation on boards for Janssen and Exelixis; multiple patents (none related to the topic of this article); committee membership for Movember; and stock or stock options in Aurora Oncology. John P. Mulhall is an Editor in Chief of the Journal of Sexual Medicine; advisor to Vault Health and reports stock or stock options in Vault Health, has received payment for expert testimony, and has received support for attending meetings and/or travel from Memorial Sloan Kettering. Laurel L. Northouse reports personal stock in Microsoft and Stryker and consulting fees for the Diadic Interventions for people with Advanced cancer and their Informal Caregivers study. Christian J. Nelson reports a grant from the National Institutes of Health (R01 CA190636). Ronald C. Chen reports grants or contracts from the National Institutes of Health, THE Patient‐Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and the Department of Defense and consulting fees from Myovant, AbbVie, Accuray, Blue Earth, and Astellas Pharma. Craig E. Pollack reports stock ownership in Gilead Pharmaceuticals and is working on a temporary assignment at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); this report does not represent the views of HUD. The other authors made no disclosures. Journal of Sexual Medicine Funding Information: Daniela Wittmann is routinely supported by the Department of Urology of the University of Michigan to attend annual meetings of the American Urological Association and the Sexual Medicine Society of North America, is a past Member of the Board of Directors of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America, and is an associate editor of the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Sharon L. Bober reports receiving honoraria from UpToDate and Johns Hopkins University and being chair for the Scientific Network on Female Sexual Health and Cancer. Ted A. Skolarus reports UpToDate royalties for authorship on a prostate cancer survivorship topic; he also reports grants from the National Cancer Institute (R37CA222885 and R01CA242559). Caroline Carter reports being a consultant for the Movember Foundation on a current sexual well-being project. Daniel E. Spratt reports personal fees from Boston Scientific, Bayer, Varian, Blue Earth, AstraZeneca, and Janssen. Stephanie Daignault-Newton reports belonging to a board for the American Urology Association. Bridget F. Koontz is a consultant for Rythera Therapeutics; reports research funding from Janssen Scientific Affairs, Merck Pharmaceuticals, and Blue Earth Diagnostics; receives royalties from Demos Publishing; is a symposium steering committee member for the American Society of Clinical Oncology; is a committee member for the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, the National Cancer Institute, and NRG; and is on advisory boards for Bayer, Blue Earth Diagnostics, and Myovant. L. Michael Glod? reports grants or contracts from the National Institutes of Health and the State of Colorado; consultancy for Janssen, Exelixis, Bayer, and Seattle Genetics; participation on boards for Janssen and Exelixis; multiple patents (none related to the topic of this article); committee membership for Movember; and stock or stock options in Aurora Oncology. John P. Mulhall is an Editor in Chief of the Journal of Sexual Medicine; advisor to Vault Health and reports stock or stock options in Vault Health, has received payment for expert testimony, and has received support for attending meetings and/or travel from Memorial Sloan Kettering. Laurel L. Northouse reports personal stock in Microsoft and Stryker and consulting fees for the Diadic Interventions for people with Advanced cancer and their Informal Caregivers study. Christian J. Nelson reports a grant from the National Institutes of Health (R01 CA190636). Ronald C. Chen reports grants or contracts from the National Institutes of Health, THE Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and the Department of Defense and consulting fees from Myovant, AbbVie, Accuray, Blue Earth, and Astellas Pharma. Craig E. Pollack reports stock ownership in Gilead Pharmaceuticals and is working on a temporary assignment at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); this report does not represent the views of HUD. The other authors made no disclosures. This study was funded by the Movember Foundation. Funding Information: This study was funded by the Movember Foundation. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 American Cancer Society",
year = "2022",
month = apr,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1002/cncr.34076",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "128",
pages = "1513--1522",
journal = "Cancer",
issn = "0008-543X",
publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Inc.",
number = "7",
}